Chapter C: CUSTANCE. O Lord! how necessary it is now of days,

That each body live uprightly all manner ways;
For let never so little a gap be open,
And be sure of this, the worst shall be spoken.
How innocent stand I in this for deed or thought,
And yet see what mistrust towards me it hath wrought.
But thou, Lord, knowest all folks' thoughts, and eke intents;
And thou art the deliverer of all innocents.
Thou didst help the advoutress,[170] that she might be amended;
Much more then help, Lord, that never ill intended.
Thou didst help Susanna, wrongfully accused,
And no less dost thou see, Lord, how I am now abused.
Thou didst help Hester, when she should have died;
Help also, good Lord, that my truth may be tried.
Yet, if Gawin Goodluck with Tristram Trusty speak,
I trust of ill-report the force shall be but weak;
And lo! yond they come, sadly talking together:
I will abide, and not shrink for their coming hither.

ACTUS V., SCÆNA 4.

GAWIN GOODLUCK, TRISTRAM TRUSTY, C. CUSTANCE, SIM. SURESBY.

G. GOOD. And was it none other than ye to me report?

T. TRUSTY. No; and here were ye wished, to have seen the sport.

G. GOOD. Would I had, rather than half of that in my purse.

SIM. SURE. And I do much rejoice the matter was no worse.
And like as to open it I was to you faithful,
So of Dame Custance honest truth I am joyful.
For God forfend that I should hurt her by false report.

G. GOOD. Well, I will no longer hold her in discomfort.

C. CUSTANCE. Now come they hitherward: I trust all shall be well.

G. GOOD. Sweet Custance, neither heart can think, nor tongue tell,
How much I joy in your constant fidelity.
Come now, kiss me, the pearl of perfect honesty.

C. CUSTANCE. God let me no longer to continue in life,
Than I shall towards you continue a true wife.

G. GOOD. Well, now to make you for this some part of amends,
I shall desire first you, and then such of our friends
As shall to you seem best, to sup at home with me,
Where at your fought field we shall laugh and merry be.

SIM. SURE. And, mistress, I beseech you take with me no grief:[171]
I did a true man's part, not wishing your repreef.

C. CUSTANCE. Though hasty reports, through surmises growing,
May of poor innocents be utter overthrowing,
Yet because to thy master thou hast a true heart,
And I know mine own truth, I forgive thee for my part.

G. GOOD. Go we all to my house, and of this gear no more.
Go, prepare all things, Sim. Suresby; hence, run afore.

SIM. SURE. I go. [_Ex._

G. GOOD. Good. But who cometh yond? Master Merrygreek?

C. CUSTANCE. Roister Doister's champion; I shrew his best cheek.

T. TRUSTY. Roister Doister's self, your wooer, is with him too.
Surely some thing there is with us they have to do.

ACTUS V., SCÆNA 5.

M. MERRYGREEK, RALPH ROISTER [_to them_], GAWIN GOODLUCK, TRISTRAM TRUSTY, C. CUSTANCE.

M. MERRY. Yonder I see Gawin Goodluck, to whom lieth my message.
I will first salute him after his long voyage,
And then make all things well concerning your behalf.

R. ROISTER. Yea, for the pash of God.

M. MERRY. Hence! out of sight, ye calf,
Till I have spoke with them, and then I will you fet.

R. ROISTER. In God's name.[172]

M. MERRY. What, master Gawin Goodluck, well-met;
And from your long voyage I bid you right welcome home.

G. GOOD. I thank you.

M. MERRY. I come to you from an honest mome,

G. GOOD. Who is that?

M. MERRY. Roister Doister, that doughty kite.

C. CUSTANCE. Fie! I can scarce abide ye should his name recite.

M. MERRY. Ye must take him to favour, and pardon all past;
He heareth of your return, and is full ill aghast.

G. GOOD. I am right well content he have with us some cheer.

C. CUSTANCE. Fie upon him, beast! then will not I be there.

G. GOOD. Why, Custance, do ye hate him more than ye love me?

C. CUSTANCE. But for your mind, sir, where he were, would I not be.

T. TRUSTY. He would make us all laugh.

M. MERRY. Ye ne'er had better sport.

G. GOOD. I pray you, sweet Custance, let him to us resort.

C. CUSTANCE. To your will I assent.

M. MERRY. Why, such a fool it is,
As no man for good pastime would forego or miss.

G. GOOD. Fet him to go with us.

M. MERRY. He will be a glad man. [_Ex._

T. TRUSTY. We must, to make us mirth, maintain him[173] all we can.
And lo, yond' he cometh, and Merrygreek with him.

C. CUSTANCE. At his first entrance, ye shall see I will him trim.
But first let us hearken the gentleman's wise talk.

T. TRUSTY. I pray you, mark, if ever ye saw crane so stalk.

ACTUS V., SCÆNA 6.

R. ROISTER, M. MERRYGREEK, C. CUSTANCE, G. GOODLUCK, T. TRUSTY, D. DOUGHTY, HARPAX.

R. ROISTER. May I then be bold?

M. MERRY. I warrant you on my word.
They say they shall be sick, but ye be at their board.

R. Roister. They were not angry, then?

M. MERRY. Yes, at first, and made strange;
But when I said your anger to favour should change,
And therewith had commended you accordingly,
They were all in love with your maship by and by;
And cried you mercy, that they had done you wrong.

R. ROISTER. For why no man, woman, nor child can hate me long.

M. MERRY. We fear (quod they) he will be avenged one day;
Then for a penny give all our lives we may.

R. ROISTER. Said they so indeed?

M. MERRY. Did they? yea, even with one voice.
He will forgive all (quod I). O, how they did rejoice!

R. ROISTER. Ha, ha, ha!

M. MERRY. Go fet him (say they), while he is in good mood;
For have his anger who lust, we will not, by the rood!

R. ROISTER. I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me told,
And that she fight no more.

M. MERRY. I warrant you; be bold.
To them, and salute them.

R. ROISTER. Sirs, I greet you all well.

OMNES. Your mastership is welcome.

C. CUSTANCE. Saving my quarrel,
For sure I will put you up into the Exchequer.

M. MERRY. Why so? Better nay. Wherefore?

C. CUSTANCE. For an usurer.

R. ROISTER. I am no usurer, good mistress, by His arms.

M. MERRY. When took he gain of money, to any man's harms?

C. CUSTANCE. Yes, a foul usurer he is, ye shall see else.

R. ROISTER. Did'st not thou promise she would pick no mo quarrels?
[_To Merr._

C. CUSTANCE. He will lend no blows, but he have in recompense
Fifteen for one, which is too much of conscience.

R. ROISTER. Ah dame! by the ancient law of arms, a man
Hath no honour to foil his hands on a woman.

C. CUSTANCE. And where other usurers take their gains yearly,
This man is angry, but he have his by and by.

G. GOOD. Sir, do not for her sake bear me your displeasure.

M. MERRY. Well, he shall with you talk thereof more at leisure.
Upon your good usage he will now shake your hand.

R. ROISTER. And much heartily welcome from a strange land.

M. MERRY. Be not afeard, Gawin, to let him shake your fist.

G. GOOD. O, the most honest gentleman that e'er I wist.
I do beseech your maship to take pain to sup with us.

M. MERRY. He shall not say you nay, (and I too by Jesus,)
Because ye shall be friends, and let all quarrels pass.

R. ROISTER. I will be as good friends with them as e'er I was.

M. MERRY. Then, let me fet your quire, that we may have a song.

R. ROISTER. Go.

G. GOOD. I have heard no melody all this year long.

M. MERRY.[174] Come on, sirs, quickly.

R. ROISTER. Sing on, sirs, for my friend's sake.